Binghamton and Johnson City will each have its own chief of police as of next year.

Binghamton Mayor Richard David and Johnson City Mayor Greg Deemie, during a Thursday news conference, said the municipalities have decided to end the joint services agreement between their police departments.

The departments have shared a police chief, Joseph Zikuski, and two assistant chiefs since 2010. David and Deemie said the change is not a reflection on Zikuski or his assistants.

"Both of us are very focused on public safety ... we want to do as much as we can to fight crime in our respective municipalities," David said. "I think we both feel we need full-time police chiefs and full-time administration."

Johnson City is conducting interviews and plans to promote someone from within its police department to the position of chief, Deemie said. The village does not plan to hire an assistant police chief.

Johnson City will likely save money as a result of the change, while an increase in cost is expected in Binghamton, the mayors said.

David said that does not necessarily mean city taxes will go up in the city. Officials are in the process of working out the budget and are looking to make a series of adjustments and cuts, he said.

Deemie said it is possible Johnson City will be able to hire more officers with the savings.

"There are a number of reasons that this change is taking place," David said. "Crime isn't the only one of them."

Financial and organizational aspects also factored into the decision, the mayors said.

Under the current joint services agreement, set to expire at the end of the year, Binghamton and Johnson City split the salaries, benefits and other costs of the chief and assistant chief positions 50-50.

Zikuski's salary was around $135,909 in 2012. Assistant police chiefs David Eggleston and William Yeager were paid about $100,847 and $99,191 respectively.

Zikuski declined to comment for this report. Neither Eggleston nor Yeager returned requests for comment.

The Binghamton City Council and Johnson City Board of Trustees approved a deal in May 2010 to share the costs and services of a single chief.

Zikuski, who had been serving as the Binghamton police chief, began serving as head of both departments the following month.

An agreement to begin sharing an assistant police chief was reached in August 2010. Zikuski said the hours that came with the role would be split between Eggleston and Yeager.

David said he and Deemie chose to announce the discontinuation of the deal on Thursday because any changes in the agreement have to be made in writing before the end of September.

There is a possibility the new Johnson City police chief will start before the contract officially expires in December, Deemie said.

"We just feel the need ... to have our own chief so they can oversee their department ... and maybe put a little different focus on certain things that are going on in the village," Deemie said.